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Acer Aspire 1800 Series
User’s Guide
Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation
to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new
editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes
no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents
herein and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose.
Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in
the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label
affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial
number, model number, and purchase information.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
Model Number : __________________________________
Serial Number: ___________________________________
Purchase Date: ___________________________________
Place of Purchase: ________________________________
Copyright © 2004
All Rights Reserved
Acer Aspire 1800 Series Notebook Computer User's Guide
Original Issue: August 2004
Acer Aspire 1800 Series Notebook computer
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.
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First things first
Yo u r g u i de s
A set of guides is provided to help you set up and use your Aspire com-
puter.
For more information on our products, services, and support, please
visit our web site: www.acer.com.
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Turning your computer on and off
To turn on your computer, open the lid and press the power button
above the keyboard. See “A tour of your computer” on page 3 for the
location of the power button.
To turn the power off, you can do any of the following:
• Click on the Start button in Windows, and then select Shut Down
on the popup menu.
• Push the power button.
To use this method, you must change the Power Management
settings in Control Panel. See Windows Help for more information.
The Just for starters… poster shows you how to set up your
computer.
This User's Guide provides clear and concise information on
using your computer productively. You are advised to read
it thoroughly and keep it handy for future reference.
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Note: If the operating system freezes, or locks up, press and hold
the power button for more than four seconds.
Taking care of your computer
Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.
• Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it
near sources of heat, such as a radiator.
• Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0°C (32°F), or
above 50°C (122°F).
• Do not expose the computer to magnetic fields.
• Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.
• Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.
• Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration.
• Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.
• Do not place objects on top of the computer.
• Do not slam the lid shut. Close the computer gently.
• Do not place the computer on unstable or uneven surfaces.
Taking care of your AC adapter
It is important that you look after your AC adapter.
• Do not connect the adapter to any other device.
• Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on it. Route
the power cord away from areas where people might walk on it or
trip over it.
• Do not pull on the power cord when disconnecting from a power
strip or wall outlet. Grasp and pull the plug instead.
• The total ampere rating for all equipment plugged into a power
strip should not exceed the ampere rating of the power strip.
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Taking care of your battery pack
It is also important that you look after your computer's battery pack.
• Use the correct battery model for your computer. Do not use other
kinds of batteries.
• Turn the power off before removing or replacing the battery.
• Do not tamper with the battery. Keep the battery away from
children.
• Dispose of batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if
possible.
Cleaning and servicing
When cleaning your computer, it is important that you follow these
steps:
• Turn off the computer and remove the battery.
• Disconnect the AC adapter.
• Clean with a soft cloth moistened with a little water. Do not use
liquid or aerosol cleaners.
Refer to the chapter entitled “Frequently asked questions” on page 79
if any of the following occurs:
• You drop the computer or damage the case.
• You spill liquid on the computer.
• The computer does not operate normally.
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First things first iii
Your guides iii
Basic care and tips for using your computer iii
Turning your computer on and off iii
Taking care of your computer iv
Taking care of your AC adapter iv
Taking care of your battery pack v
Cleaning and servicing v
Getting familiar with
your computer 1
A tour of your computer 3
Front view 5
Left view 6
Right view 7
Rear view 8
Bottom view 9
Features 10
Display 12
Indicators 13
Keyboard 15
Lock keys 15
Windows keys 16
Function keys 17
Euro key 18
Touchpad 19
Touchpad basics 19
Launch keys 21
Storage 23
Hard disk 23
Optical drive 23
Ejecting the CD or DVD tray 23
Connectivity options 24
Ethernet and LAN 24
Fax/data modem 24
Audio 26
Aspire Media Console 27
Securing your computer 28
Security slot 28
Passwords 28
Operating on
Contents
battery power 29
Battery pack 31
Battery pack characteristics 31
Maximizing battery life 31
Installing and removing the battery pack 32
Charging the battery 33
Checking the battery level 33
Optimizing battery life 33
Battery-low warning 34
Power management 35
Peripherals and options 37
External display devices 39
External input devices 39
External keyboard 39
External keypad 39
External pointing device 39
USB devices 40
IEEE 1394 Port 41
Printer 42
Audio devices 42
Expansion devices 43
PC Card 43
Key component upgrades 45
Memory upgrade 45
Installing memory 45
Hard disk upgrade 46
Moving with your computer 47
Disconnecting from the desktop 49
Moving around 49
Taking the computer home 50
Setting up a home office 50
Traveling with with computer 51
Traveling internationally with your computer 52
Software 53
System utility 55
Acer eManager 55
Launch Manager 56
Aspire Arcade 57
Instant-on Arcade 57
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Features and Benefits 57
Cinema 57
Album 58
Music 58
Windows Arcade 60
Arcade Hot keys 61
Arcade remote controller 62
Finding and playing content 65
Advanced Settings 65
Arcade controls 66
Navigation controls 66
Player controls 66
Cinema 67
DVD settings 67
Album 69
Video 71
Playing a video file 71
Editing a video file 71
Music 72
TV(Optional) 72
Burner 72
Copy - backup your CD/DVD collection 72
Audio - create your own greatest hits CDs 73
Data - store files simply and easily 73
Video - your world in pictures 73
BIOS Setup Utility 75
Troubleshooting 77
Frequently asked questions 79
Appendix A Specifications 83
Appendix B Notices 89
Index 103
Getting familiar with
your computer
Your Aspire notebook computer combines
solid performance, versatility, multimedia
capabilities and portability with stylish
design. Increase your productivity by
working wherever you are.
This chapter provides an in-depth "tour" of
your computer's features.
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A tour of your computer
After setting up your new Aspire notebook computer, as illustrated in
the Just for starters… poster, take a few minutes to explore your sytem.
Open view
# Item Description
1 Screen Wide screen display provides visual
output.
2 Status Indicators LEDs that turn on and off to show
system statuss.
Getting familiar with your computer
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3 Launch keys Buttons that can be programmed to
start frequently used applications.
4 Keyboard Full-size keyboard for inputting typed
data.
5 Built-in Microphone For recording audio on the computer
6 Touchpad Touch sensitive pad that functions like a
computer mouse.
7 Click buttons and 4-way
scroll key
Right and left buttons that provide the
same functions as the buttons on a
computer mouse. The scroll key scrolls
the contents of a window up and down,
as well as right and left.
8 Palm rest Provides a comfortable platform for
your hands when typing on the
keyboard.
9 Power Button Turns the computer on or off.
# Item Description
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Front view
# Item Description
1 Stereo Speakers Produce stereo sound
2 InviLink™
Button
Enables Wireless LAN connectivity (manufacturing
option)
3 Bluetooth®
Button
Enables Bluetooth® functionality (manufacturing
option)
4 Console display Media status display
5 Remote sensor Receive the signal from the remote control
6 Arcade button Multimedia button
7 Stop Press to stop playing the audio track or video file
8 Play/Pause Press to start playing the audio track or video file/
Press again to pause
9 Backward Press to skip backward to the previous track or
video file and start playing
10 Forward Press to skip forward to the next track or video
file and start playing
11 Power indicator Lights when the computer is on
12 Battery charge
indicator
Lights orange when the battery is in charging.
Lights green when the battery is fully charged
13 Media Controls Multimedia Button
14 Latch Locks and releases the lid
Getting familiar with your computer
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Left view
# Item Description
1
USB ports
USB 2.0 ports
2
Headphone-in jack
Connects headphones for analog audio
output and digital S/PDIF output
3
Microphone-in jack
Connects an external microphone for
audio input
4 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs
depending on the optical drive type.
5 Optical disc read
indicator
Light emitting diode (LED) that indicates
when an optical disc is being read.
6 Optical drive eject button Press the eject button to remove a disc
from the optical drive.
7 Optical drive emergency
eject hole
Used to eject an optical disc when the
computer is turned off.
8 5 in 1 Card Reader Supports:
• Memory Stick (MS)
• MultiMediaCard (MMC)
• SecureDigital (SD)
• SmartMedia (SM)
•xD
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Right view
# Item Description
1 PC card eject button Press the eject button to remove a PC card
from the PC card slot.
2 PC card slot Type II PC card supports PCMCIA or
CardBus.
3 IEEE 1394 port Connects IEEE 1394 devices.
4 USB ports USB 2.0 ports
5 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.
infrared printer, IR-aware computer, etc...)
Getting familiar with your computer
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Rear view
# Item Description
1 S-video out port Connects to a television or display device
supporting S-video input.
2 Network jack Connects the computer to the 10/100/
1000 Ethernet network.
3 Modem jack Connects the built-in fax/data modem to
a phone line.
4 External display
port
Connects an external (VGA) monitor.
5 Ventilation slot Enables the computer to stay cool, even
after prolonged use.
6 Kensington lock slot For attaching a security device.
7 DC-in jack Connect the AC power adapter
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Bottom view
# Item Description
1 Mini-PCI Slot Slot for adding mini-PCI cards
2 Memory compartment Removable cover provides access to the
memory slots for upgrading the
computer's memory.
3
Battery release latch
Unlatches the battery to remove the
battery pack.
4 Battery pack The computer's removable battery.
5 Hard disk bay Removable cover provides access to the
computer's hard drive.
6 Sub-Woofer Outputs low/mid range audio
Getting familiar with your computer
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Features
Performance
• Intel® Pentium® 4 processor 520/530/540/550/560 (2.8 to 3.6 GHz,
1MB L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB); supporting Intel® Hyper-Threading™
Technology
• Intel® 915P chipset supporting PCI-Express technology
• 2 memory slots supporting 333 MHz DDR, upgradeable to 2GB
with dual soDIMM modules, supporting dual-channel DDR
memory when 2 memory slots utilized
Note: Dual-channel memory requires symmetrical memory
modules using the same density (e.g. 256MB,512MB), bus width
(e.g. x8 ,x16) and granule technology (e.g. 256M-bit, 512M-bit)
• 40GB and up Enhanced-IDE hard disk drive
Multimedia
• Built-in DVD Combo,DVD-Dual or DVD Super-Multi drive
• 17.0” TFT Color LCD, 16:10 viewing ratio, 1440x900 (WXGA) panel
• 2.1 channel stereo speaker system with built-in subwoofer
• Audio input and S/PDIF (for digital audio enjoyment) output jacks
Connectivity
• Integrated Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps) Ethernet connection
• Built-in 56Kbps fax/data modem
• Four universal serial bus (USB 2.0) ports
• One IEEE 1394 port
• InviLink™ 802.11b/g Wireless LAN, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ with WPA
support; supporting Acer SignalUp™ wireless technology and
Bluetooth® (manufacturing options)
Human-centric design
• Rugged, portable construction
• Stylish appearance
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